Ring of Honor: Watch It or Continue to Complain About Watching the Same Old Crap

(4 votes, average 4.50 out of 5)

Written by Shane Howard

Monday, 23 November 2009 19:41

Okay, let's make this short and sweet. What you are about to read is what we call a rant.

Throughout the Internet Wrestling Community we continue to hear the cries of fans who are fed up with the wrestling product they are given on the main stage. Boy do I have the answer to your problems.

Let's run down the list of many of the issues ailing you lot.

You are tire of seeing the same faces in the world title scene.
There aren't any fresh faces being elevated.
The tag team division isn't up to scratch.
Many of the women who are wrestling aren't interesting or talented enough.
There are a plethora of past their prime professionals still portraying themselves as people who can operate on the same playing field as their younger colleagues. (Like the alliteration there?)
These guest hosts need to be far away from my television screen.
The wrestling is formulaic and extremely lacking.

We can go on, but you should get the picture. If you don't have any of these issues, then why are reading this?

For those who have thought of these issues (some, or all) then why aren't you watching Ring of Honor (ROH)? No, I'm not being rhetorical. ROH, currently airing Monday nights on HDnet, can't be seen by the masses, but it is easily accessible to those who can get to a computer with Internet access.

The world wide web is a marvelous place where you can indulge in many things, whatever your taste. And if your taste is better wrestling then head to YouTube and find this channel. ROHBrazil provides the latest episode every Thursday.

ROH provides you with the opportunity to see talents such as ROH Champion (the only two-time champ) Austin Aries, Tyler Black, Chris Hero, Davey Richards, and a host of others.

The world title picture has some logic to it with the newly installed "Pick 6" stipulation. According to ROH's website,

ROH officials unanimously agreed on the formation of a new and objective ranking system which would base championship matches on the merits of a competitor’s record, at the same time eliminating the chance for unfair or bogus title defenses, and creating a new sense of competition between wrestlers who are “climbing the ladder".

How does this work you may ask?

- Only wrestlers ranked in the “Pick 6” are eligible to challenge for the ROH World Championship.
- The higher a wrestler is seeded, the more leverage he has in determining the scheduling of championship matches.
- Wrestlers securing victories in “Pick 6” matchups earn a match bonus.
- Once the rankings are set, wrestlers can only enter the “Pick 6” Standings by defeating a ranked wrestler.
- An unranked wrestler that defeats a “Pick 6” Contender assumes that wrestler’s spot, and everyone lower slides down one rank. The lower a wrestler is ranked, the more they have to lose.

Look at that, folks. No longer will a wrestler be granted a title shot upon return from some injury. No longer will we see a wrestler lose a match for one title but get a match for another title. No, these fellows have actually EARNED their spot here.

Moving on, shall we?

The American Wolves, the Briscoes, Dark City Fight Club, Steenerico, Kenny King and Rhett Titus, and the Young Bucks are just some of the duos you will see grace your screen in ROH's tag division. These aren't just guys thrown together for the sake of building a division. These are guys who know each other and provide us with fantastic action and entertainment throughout. Can you always say that when watching some of the tag matches in the other big boys?

If not for ROH, I would never have gotten the chance to take in the magnificent performer known as KENTA. Watch a KENTA match or two and you will become a fan of his. I guarantee.

Sara Del Rey, Daizee Haze, MsChif, Nikki Roxx, they have all gotten it on in an ROH ring at one point or another. If you don't think that these women can wrestle, you're truly accustomed to seeing the bra and panty filler that you are provided with on a weekly basis on some other show.

This is something else that is so wonderful about ROH. They have partnerships with other companies that give viewers the chance to see individuals they normally don't get to. Working with Mexico's AAA wrestling promotion provides fans the chance to see Teddy Hart, Jack Evans, Alex Koslov, and Rocky Romero. Working with SHIMMER gives us the action provided by the women.

Main event scene: The very fact that Austin Aries is the company's first two-time world champion should indicate how the company makes sure that the title scene stays fresh. This is the company which once employed Nigel McGuinness, Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, yet they never held the title more than once.

You aren't going to see 40-plus year old men strutting out to the ring and getting in matches every night when they clearly can't cut it. No, the talent here is impeccable. Anyone have any issues with Jerry Lynn wrestling at his age, please keep your opinion to yourself, because Lynn can still go.

So, after these last three sentences, head to the YouTube channel I provided up above and get to perusing the action. Or you can simply stay stuck watching...and complaining about, the same stuff you are seeing on the other big promotions. Plus, where else can you see the comedic stylings of Colt Cabana, the antics of Prince Nana, or the wackiness of Delirious?

Don't forget to follow HTR on Twitter and add us on Facebook.

Credit ROH.com for information and quote.

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